Review: Dragon Day

This is the author’s third novel with heroine Ellie McEnroe and although it is my least favorite, I still regard it as good read.

What I liked:

The setting. For those of us who travel less, it is a treat to see exotic places like China through the eyes of a gifted storyteller. This setting is very much a prominent character, making the experience even more enjoyable.

The family. How people relate to family in a novel can often be as important as the plot. It provides readers with a safe place to address their own familial challenges without the requisite emotional baggage. It doesn’t just make characters more real and relatable. Because when a reader engages with a character vicariously, another level of interaction arises, leaving a lingering impact in the mind, one that germinates upon further reflection, such that ideas fully form and take hold, allowing for the possibility of personal growth. Brackmann’s fictional family is an entertaining gift for readers to treat with surrogate care.

The departure. This adventure introduces an entirely new set of players into Ellie’s world. While some favorites return, others fade into the background. It is a fresh, if not completely independent sequel to the previous two tales. Getting to know the new faces raises the mystery quotient I’m happy to say.

What I didn’t like:

Ellie has a slight personality change. She remains the damaged PTSD combat casualty, struggling to find herself and her place in the world. However this version is so fraught with uncertainty about whom she should trust and what the consequences of her choices might be, her paralysis of analysis becomes off putting. She still doesn’t heed the advice of those who care for her as always. Which makes me wonder, why all the kvetching if she’s going to do things her way in the end?

What you should know:

This is adults only fare in my opinion. The threat of violence permeates throughout. There are mature themes, however the language is moderately colorful.